United Way helps students step into new school year with fresh shoes

WELLSBURG -- The United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley is helping area youth prepare for the upcoming school year.

Representatives of the organization were in Wellsburg Wednesday to kick off the distribution for its annual Lace Up for Kids program.

Lace Up for Kids provides eligible children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade with an opportunity to receive new shoes before the beginning of each school year. Wednesday's distribution was held at the Brooke County Public Library in Wellsburg.

"We do one of these distribution days in each of our seven counties," United Way Associate Director Madison Seavy said.

The United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley serves communities in Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel and Tyler counties in West Virginia, as well as Belmont County in Ohio.

School-age children from low-income families in the service area may apply for the program by providing proof of school enrollment for each child, along with other information to verify eligibility. The deadline for this year's distribution was July 27.

Each child accepted into the program is eligible for a voucher of up to $40 that can be used at Shoe Sensation or Shoe Department stores in the area.

"In the last six years, it’s grown from serving 300 to 1,100 annually," Seavy said, noting the program's unofficial slogan of "Starting kids off on the right foot for the school year."

According to the United Way, 551 applications were received this year for more than 1,100 children throughout the region.

Lace Up for Kids is held in partnership with Covestro, EQT, West Virginia Northern Community College, The Sonneborn Foundation and WTOV-TV.

Additional distributions have been scheduled:

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 10 at West Virginia Northern Community College's New Martinsville campus for Wetzel County.

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Ohio Valley Mall Community Room for Belmont County.

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Sistersville Church of Christ for Tyler County.

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Marshall County Chamber of Commerce for Marshall County.

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 14 at West Virginia Northern Community College's Weirton campus for Hancock County.

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 18 at West Virginia Northern Community College's Wheeling campus for Ohio County.